Centrifugal extractor and centrifugal method



June 7, 1938. E. L. MILLER 7 2,

' CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND CENTRIFUGAL METHOD Filed Oct. 10, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 7, 1938. E. L. MILLER I CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND CEN'I'RIFUGAL METHOD Filed Oct. 10, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE NT 0R W WMZWS June 7, 1938.

E. 1.. MILLER CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND CENTRIFUGAL IIETHOD Filed Oct, 10, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 a I ATIORNEYS Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT OFFICE OENTRIFUGAL EXTBACTOR AND CENTBJI' UGAL METHOD Edward L. Miller, Troy, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Machine and Metals, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 10, 1935, Serial No. 44,342 i 10 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in centrifugal extractors and more particularly to such-improvements in the construction and method of operation of extractors 5 especially capacitated to handle materials, and more particularly fluent materials producing fumes or noxious orotherwise objectionable vapors or exhalations during the process.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations, pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, con- I structions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

f the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an extractor embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged central section of the machine shown in Fig. l;

P18. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line l4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5,'looking in the direction of the arrow A;

I Fig. 'l is a fragmentary plan of the unloader operating means; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram.

Some of the main objects of the invention are to provide a centrifugal extractor especially capacitated to treat materials which emit noxious or otherwise objectionable vapors or exhalations during treatment; to provide means forconfining and disposing of the noxious and objectionable vapors; to provide such a machine in which the handling of the materials, .during the supplying, treatment and discharge operations is simple and easy while preferably carried on under the direct control and discretion of the attendant; to provide a valveless basket and a fluent material 7 supply therefor within a fume confining enclosure, and automatic unloading and discharg- 66 ing means likewise operating within the fume confining enclosure; to provide improved mechanisms and parts especially capacitated to operate in a fume proof extractor but capacitated also for improved general use in centrifugals; to provide an improved method or methods of treating 5 fumous materials within a closed extracting system; to provide more especially a method of treating fluent, fumous materials within a closed or fume proof system, and to supply, treat and discharge the materials while maintaining the system closed or fume proof.

With these and other obj ts in view my invention is herewith exemplarily embodied in an extractor of the suspended type, the basket having a valveless bottom and having a concentric discharge opening of considerably less diameter than the basket. The open top 'of the casing is covered or enclosed by a preferably permanent fume proof hood, the means for supplying the material to be extracted and for discharging the dried material being enclosed within the hood and being operable from without the closed hood. Accordingly, means are provided, such as a properly oriflced pipe for conveying the material into the closed system and extruding or projecting the fluent material into the basket in the direction of its rotation and outside of the area of the bottom opening, thereby insuring that all of the fed-in material will pass outwardly on to the basket wall to be extracted, notwithstanding that the central part of the basket bottom is permanently open. By this mechanism and method of feeding the complication of a valve mechanism within the basket is avoided. An unloader of the scraper type is provided within the basket and hood, with means for controlling boththe longitudinal and angular position of the unloader and devices for operating same from without the hood, whereby the unloading operation is conducted and controlled without the necessity of opening the hood. An interlock between the unloader and the extractor drive is provided, which is especially eflicacious because of the unloader being mounted within the enclosing hood, is wholly or partially concealed from view and is not accessible for direct manual handling. Other functions and structural features of theinvention will be setforth hereinafter, and it will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the machine frame comprises uprights and 2 and cross beams 3 supported thereon., A cylindrical casing l is mounted within the frame, and as shown is provided with a top curb or flange plate 8, and at its bottom with an annular trough 9 for gathering the extracted liquid and conveying it away. Located inside the annular trough 9 is a concentric discharge opening l8, through which the discharged materials from the basket pass, and this opening is provided with a closure II, to render it fume proof. In the central part of closure II is a shutter or slide |2 which may be opened during the discharge of the material from the basket. Within the casing is a rotatable basket I9, mounted upon its shaft 20, and the basket is preferably of the suspended type. The basket has a perforate or pervious wall I8 and a top curb or flange IT. The tapered bottom end of the shaft 28 is fitted into a hub 2|, connected by a plurality of spiders 22 to the bottom 23 of the basket, the openings 24 between the spiders being the discharge openings for the .dried material discharged from the basket. A

be of the usual type, the brake structure beingsupported by the frame member 38. The details of the brake mechanism will be described hereinafter in connection with the circuit control and the interlock with the unloader.

A fume proof hood 4| is provided, forming a complete closure over the top opening of the casing, the devices for supplying the material and the washing liquid passing within the hood and being mounted upon the casing therewithin, the unloader being likewise mounted within the hood; the operating and controlling mechanism therefor being actuated from without the hood. The hood is preferably supplied with one or more windows 42. The embodied form of material supply operates on fluent material, and comprises a pipe passing into the hood 4|, and supported by a bracket 46 fixed on the curb 8 of the casing. Pipe 45 then passes downwardly within the basket and terminates in a nozzle 41, located near the bottom of the basket, and point. ing in the direction of rotation of the basket. The nozzle has an orifice 48 shown as relatively long and narrow and vertically disposed. The fluent material forced out through the orifice is projected in the direction of rotation of the basket and inside of the discharge openings 24, and passes readily. outwardly and builds up on the perforate Vertical basket wall as desired, without danger of falling through the bottom openings. The embodied means of supplying washing fiuid comprises a pipe 54 passing into the hood 4| and downwardly within the basket. As shown, the pipe is provided with an end nozzle 55 and a plurality of spray nozzles 56 spaced along itsvertical reach, and the manner and location of supplying the washing liquid may be varied as desired.

When a suspended basket is employed, a gastight seal is provided between the basket shaft and the fume proof hood which permits the gyratory motion of the shaft. As herewith embodied a dished plate 49 is fixed to the hood 4| about the shaft opening, and a correspondingly shaped smaller disc rests movably therein, their contacting surfaces forming a seal notwithstanding their relative movement. A spring 5| holds the two discs in yielding contact while permitting free movement. Suitable means are provided, if desired, for removing fumes or vapors from the machine, and as shown, a pipe 58 communicates with the top of the hood 4| and may communicate also with exhaust means of any known or suitable form, and shown conventionally as a fan 59.

The embodied form of unloader is of the scraper type and capacitated to dislodge the dried material from the basket wall, during or by its longitudinal movement, and thereafter to move the dislodged material along the basket bottom and out through the openings 24, the positions and movements of the unloader being effected and governedirom the outside of the fume proof hood 4|. As embodied, a scraper 63 is mounted on a holder 64 which in turn 1s fixed on the bottom end 65 of a screw-threaded shaft 66. The screw-threaded shaft is mounted both for rotational and longitudinal movement in bushed bearings in a bracket 61, fixed upon the top of the casing curb 8 within the fume proof hood. Bracket 51 comprises twospacedapart plates, a bottom plate 68 and a top plate 69, the means for moving rod 66 angularly and longitudinally being located between the plates. The means for imparting longitudinal movement to the screw-threaded rod 66 and the scraper 63 to move the scraper up and down the basket wall during the unloading, comprises a rotatable screw-threaded member or disc engaging the thread on the rod 86, the disc being turned to move the screw rod longitudinally. As embodied, a bevel gear 73 is held between the bracket plates 58 and 69, and is screw-threaded internally to engage the screw-threaded rod 66. Meshing with the gear 13 is a gear 14, fixed on a shaft 15, which is journaled in a bearing 16, fixed to the bracket 61 and also in a bearing Tl mounted on the hood 4|. This bearing has a gas-tight gland 18. Fixed on the shaft 15 exteriorly of the hood 4| is a hand-wheel l9, and by turning the hand-wheel the unloader scraper is raised and lowered.

The embodied means for angularly moving the scraper operates by rotating the screw-threaded shaft 65, the shaft 66 as embodied not havin transverse movement. In said means, a spur gear 81 is mounted loosely on bracket plate 68 beneath gear 13, and the spur gear 81 has a splined connection 88 with shaft 66, whereby the shaft may move longitudinally relatively to gear 8-1 but is rotated with the gear. Meshing with spur gear 81 is a spur gear 89 fixed on a vertical shaft 90 journaled at its lower end in the bracket 81, the spur gear hub resting upon bracket plate 68, there being a spacing collar 9| between the gear and the upper bracket plate 66. Shaft 90 projects from the hood 4|, and has a bearin mounted on the hood, and provided with a gastight gland 94. Fixed to the exterior end of shaft 90 is a handle 95 by which the shaft may be rotated to impart the necessary angular movement to the unloading scraper. To properly limit this angular movement, 9. lug 96 is fixed on handle Q5, and may move between two adjustable limit stops 91 and 98 mounted on the hood 4|, which define the inner and outer positions of the scraper in cutting down the dried material and in discharging it from the basket.

I Means are provided for controlling the basket tension I03 of the hood 4|, a motor circuit controlling switch IiII is positioned in the upper end of said part I06, and means are provided for operating the switch from the shaft- 66. As embodied, the upper end of shaft 66 has a screw thread I03 on which is threaded a nut or collar III3,and a cylindrical cap III! is screw-threaded onto the end of the shaft 66, being in effect an adjustable upper end for the shaft. Mounted in the cap H is a floating plunger III maintained in floating position above the cap III! by The switch I31 is a compression spring II2. spring-impelled to the open circuit position or to the slow drive position, as when a star-delta drive is used. Thus when the unloader is in use within the basket and shaft 63 moves downwardly, switch II" will be in the position just described, and the basket will be rotated very slowly during the unloading. After the unloading is completed, hand-wheel I3 is rotated to elevate shaft 48 and the unloader to the retracted or solid line position of Fig. 2, and plunger I II then engages switch button I31 and closes at that point the high-speed or delta circuit. A certain amount of play or'free movement exists between plunger III and the top of shaft 63, whereby after the unloader has been raised slightly above the curb 8 it may be swung out and dropped slightly to a position of rest on the curb, and spring 2 will still hold switch 101 in the highspeed position.

Means are also provided whereby the unloader circuit control anda brake circuit control may be interlocked, the unloader control, as already described, permitting high-speed operation of the basket only when the unloader is retracted, and the brake interlock permitting high-speed operation of the basket only when the brake is oil. Referring now to the embodied form of brake mechanism and control, a band brake III is shown about the brake drum 33, and having an intermediate sliding support Ill from the frame 33. One end of the brake band I" is connected to a compression spring II! in a usual manner to safeguard against grabbing oruneven action. The other end of brake band II! is pivotally connected at I23 to one end of a bellcrank lever I24, fulcrumed at I25 upon the frame 33. The other end of lever I24 is pivoted at I24 to a link I21, which link is pivoted at I33 to one arm of bell-crank lever I23 to form a toggle. Lever I2! is pivoted at I23 upon the frame 33, and two stops I30 and III on link I21 and arm I23 position the made toggle. A spring I32 impels the toggle system to the open position, that is, with the brake off. A switch I33 in the motor circuit is spring pressed in the open circuit position by a spring I44 which is coiled on pin I23 and acts on a finger I, which is pivoted loosely on the pivot pin I23. An arm I42 is fixed on the hub of finger I and projects into the path of 9. lug I43 flxed on the hub of bell-crank lever I23. when hand lever I23 is moved clockwise in Fig. the toggle is broken, lever I24 is swung to throw off the brake band 1, lug I43 engages finger I42 to lift finger I from switch I33, and spring I32 acts to hold the parts in this position until the brake is again applied by moving the lever I23. When the brake is off the motor' circuit is closed for high-speed at switch I39.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated an exemplary wiring diagram and controls for operating the driving motor on the star-delta system, and showing the application of the unloader interlock and the brake interlock thereto. The delta switches for the three line wires are indicated by D-I, D-2 and D-3 and the star switches are indicated by SI and S2. The actuating relay for the delta switches is indicated by B and is energized from the fast button B-I, and the actuating relay for the star switches is indicated by C and is controlled from the slow button C-I. Associated with the actuating relays B and C, respectively, are auxiliary relays B2 and 0-2 for sequence operation of the line switches LS through the actuating relay A. The switch III! which is controlled by the unloader in the manner already described, is shown in the highspeed circuit which is automatically closed when the unloader is in retracted position. The brake interlock switch I39 is shown in the common circuit, and is normally closed, but is opened when the brake is put on and is closed when throwing oil. the brake.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of tne invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A centrifugal extractor including in combination an open bottom casing, a shaft, a basket within the casing and mounted on the shaft and having an open bottom, a fume proof hood closing the top of the casing, means for supplying. the material to be extracted within the basket and hood, and an unloader and actuating means therefor located above the casing and within the hood and operable from without the casing and hood for dislodging the dried material and discharging it through the open bottom of the basket and a fume proof closure for the bottom of the casing.

2. A centrifugal extractor including in comination an open top casing, a gyral shaft, a basket within the casing and suspended from the shaft, a fume proof hood closing the top of the casing and a seal between the hood and the gyral shaft, said seal comprising two members having curved surfaces in sliding contact, one member movable with the shaft and the other member at rest on the closure.

3. A centrifugal extractor including in com-' bination a casing, a basket, a fume proof hood closing the casing opening, an unloader comr prising a shaft and scraper, and actuating means therefor inclosed within the hood, means meeting with said shaft to move the scraper longitudinally and means for rotating said shaft to move the scraper toward and away from the basket wall.

4. In a centrifugal extractor in combination, a casing, a basket having a central discharge opening, a fume proof hood enclosing the open top of the casing, means for rotating the basket, means for conveying a fluent material within the hood and depositing it within the basket,

means for conveying washing fluid within the hood and basket to wash said material, an unloader withdrawable above the casing and within the hood, and means for operating the unloader including actuating means located externally of the hood,

5. In a centrifugal extractor in combination, a casing, a basket having a central discharge opening, a fume proof hood enclosing the open top of the casing, means for rotating the basket, means for conveying a fluent material within the hood and projecting it into the basket substantially horizontally and in the direction of rotation, and an unloader within the hood and means for operating the unloader including actuating means located externally of the hood.

6. In a centrifugal extractor in combination, a casing, a basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a motor for driving the basket, an unloader, and a switch in the motor circuit operated by the unloader.

7. In a centrifugal extractor in combination a casing, a basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a motor for driving the basket, an unloader vertically movable into operating position within the basket and vertically retractable from operating position, and switch means in the motor circuit and connections therefrom controlled by movement of the unloader between idle and working positions, and permitting high-speed operation of the basket when the unloader is in retracted position and permitting only slow speed ment of the unloader to bring it to rest without top of the casing, means for rotating the basket,

operation of the basket when the unloader is in operating position. U

8. In a centrifugal extractor in combination a casing, a basket, a shaft on which the basket is mounted, a motor for driving the basket, an unloader, switch means in the circuit of the driving motor, means operated by the unloader when lifted above the casing to throw said switch, said operating means permitting retractive movemeans for conveying a fluent material within the hood and depositing it within the basket, an unloader mounted within the hood and vertically movable into and out of operative relation with the basket, and means for operating the unloader including actuating means located externally to the hood.

EDWARD L. MILLER. 

